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A defiant Miriam Margolyes has used profanities to take aim at anyone offended by her comments about the greed and brutality of Australia.

The outspoken Harry Potter star said she was warned Australians didn’t like any form of criticising them, but vowed to keep speaking her mind.

“I hope people will not be too annoyed about the things I have to say, but in the end, to be honest, f*** 'em if they are,” she said in an interview with The New Daily. “That's tough. I'm telling it like I see it.”

“There is a brutality there and a greed in Australia, which I don't like,” she told TV Tonight on Monday.

“You know, the developers. Those horrible structures along the coast, that people should be ashamed of living in. Surfers Paradise, it's disgusting. I think that actually shocked me because I don't go there. It's not my world and I don't want to go there.”

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Social media users urged the BAFTA-winning star to go back to the UK, labelling her a moaning pom, rude, ignorant and “an old woman trying to grab a fading spotlight”.

“Be grateful and humbled that you live in a country like Australia, otherwise I encourage you to pack up your granny bag and leave,” a Facebook user commented on PerthNow.

“Looks to me like she’s the greedy one,” another said.

But the star came out swinging again, despite her partner Heather Sutherland warning her that “Australians don’t like criticism”.

“And they don't, so I knew that I was doing something quite risky by, you know, having an opinion,” Margolyes said.

“Because I think Australians are a bit tired of Brits mouthing off about Australia, and I don't blame them.”